Essential Steps to Preparing for Divorce

While every family situation is different, and every divorce case is unique, there are some general guidelines that you should follow if you are considering filing for divorce or legal separation from your spouse or partner. Although there is never a guarantee as to what your divorce will be like, taking these steps now will make it much more likely that your divorce will be easier, quicker, and cause less hostility between you and your soon-to-be-ex-spouse. At the very least, taking these steps will allow you to take a more realistic and practical view of your personal situation and help you move on to the next stage in your life.

Take Stock of Your Finances

First, you need to gather all financial information regarding you and/or your spouse and get it organized so that you can understand it and see what you and your spouse have in terms of assets and debts. Particularly if you have not been heavily involved in financial matters during your marriage, you need to find out if there are any financial issues, unpaid bills, delinquent payments, and similar matters that should be addressed in your divorce. You also need to be clear about the assets that you and your spouse own, whether they are held jointly or solely by either spouse. It is all too common for one spouse to hide debts or assets from the other spouse, which can be quite a surprise once it comes in the divorce – if it comes out at all. You need to know now what you are facing in terms of your financial future.

Get Professional Assistance

Next, consult with professionals as needed. This includes getting legal advice from an experienced Fort Lauderdale divorce attorney, who can analyze your situation and help you create the strategy for handling your divorce that will be most effective and beneficial to you and your family. A financial advisor or CPA also can examine your situation from a financial perspective and help you determine how best to handle your assets and debts. Finally, it wouldn’t hurt to seek counseling from a therapist during what is likely to be one of the most stressful and emotional times in your life.

Take Care of Business

Finally, go ahead and take care of necessities, such as repairs and medical care, right now, before anything in your situation change. For example, you may be changing insurance plans in the near future due to the divorce, but already have met your deductible for the year. This would be a good time to get any dental or vision issues treated, both for you and your children. Have your car checked out to make sure that there are no necessary repairs that could unexpectedly cost you a lot of money in the future. Do the same with your house, whether you intend to remain living there or sell it. Get it inspected and get repairs done, because either way, you’ll have to do it.

Contact Your Fort Lauderdale Divorce Attorney Today

If you are considering divorce or separation from your spouse or partner, you should seek the legal advice and counsel that only an experienced Florida divorce lawyer can give you. Contact Vanessa L. Prieto Law Offices, LLC, to set up a consultation, and see what legal options are available to you.